"Jazz Ambassadors" Coming To Limestone on Nov. 15

Charles Wyatt
"Jazz Ambassadors" Coming To Limestone on Nov. 15

Limestone College will host the U.S. Army Field Band’s “Jazz Ambassadors” on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. at Fullerton Auditorium.

The event is free, but advance tickets are recommended. To order tickets, please visit: http://armyfieldband.ticketleap.com/the-jazz-ambassadors---americas-big….

The band’s performance at Limestone is being held in conjunction with The Gaffney Ledger. In addition to the website listed above, tickets can be obtained by filling out an order form in The Gaffney Ledger and mailing it in.

“The Jazz Ambassadors are among the absolute best music ensembles in the entire military music system, and they are among the best jazz bands in the United States,” said Limestone’s Assistant Director of Bands Ryan Williams. “We are truly fortunate to have this group coming to Limestone to perform. To see a similarly-talented civilian jazz band would probably cost $30 to $40 per ticket, so this is quite the steal for the College and the Cherokee County community.”

The Jazz Ambassadors – known as America's Big Band – is the official touring big band of the United States Army. The 19-member ensemble, formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and abroad.

Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are designed to entertain all types of audiences. Custom compositions and arrangements highlight the group's creative talent and gifted soloists. Their diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections.

The band has appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe. Notable performances include concerts at international jazz festivals in Montreux, Switzerland; Newport, Rhode Island; Toronto, Canada; Brussels, Belgium; and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. In 1995, the Jazz Ambassadors performed in England, Wales, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. The band has also been featured in unique joint concerts with major orchestras, including the Detroit and Baltimore symphonies.

As a component of the United States Army Field Band of Washington, DC, the Jazz Ambassadors mission is “to carry into the grassroots of our country the story of our magnificent Army.” For more information, visit www.armyfieldband.com.

In addition to patriotic selections, each Jazz Ambassadors performance aims to cover the history of jazz, including early jazz (1900-1930), the Swing Era (1935-1945), bebop and cool jazz (1945-1960), and modern jazz (1960-present).

Tickets will be available at the door on Nov. 10, while supplies last, but the Jazz Ambassadors do recommend that tickets be obtained in advance.